Lock washer



May 26, 1925. 1,539,348

L. J. BoTscHELLER LOCK WASHER Filed Oct. 27, 1924 ////D&\\\\\ Y www? Patented Moy 26, 1925.

ulluTEDv STATES PATENT oEFficE.

LEOJ. BOTSGHELLER, OF DALTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

` LOCK WASHER.

` Application illed- October 27, 1924.- Serial No. 746,228.

To all whom it ma/y camera.'

Be 'it known that I, LEo'J. Bofrsomminn, a citizen 'of the United States, residing .at Dalton, in the' county 'ofLackawanna and i State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and=useful -Im rovements in Lock Washers, of which the ollowing is a specification.- My'invention relates to lock washers pertaining, for' instance, to lock washers appli-l stant tightening of the nut on the perch, or

else frequently re lacement of the parts.

In this particu ar construction reglstering perch or bolt holes are formed in the axle and radius rod, being of greater d1- ameter than the perch or bolt that extends through them. The radius rod is countersunk Vadjacent the bolt hole, and the nut threaded upon the perch has an integral bevelled fiange which is supposed to seat in the countersink to lock the radius rodV and nut together. In practice, however, the bevelled portion turning with the nut, binds Il on the surface of the countersink before it fully seats, and relativewibration of the axle and radius rod causes destructive wear. l There are a number of reasons for this, but it is principally due to the facts that the bevelled portion must turn with the nut, and that the bolt hole in the radius rod .is larger than the bolt, and the bolt`or perch therefor may extend through the countersink eccentrically thereof. Obviously this 0' brings one portion of the countersink into engagement with the bevelled part ofthe nut without really seating. This binding actionis also assisted by the pressure on the perch from the weight of the car, which it supports.

It 1s an object of my invention to eliminate any binding between the parts and to form a' rigid and immovable connection, but which may be readily disassembled when' 5 desired.

It is a further ob'ect of my invention to provide a lock was er that will not only Ashown bent up tothe lock the nutto the radius rod, but also the radius rod to the perch, and in addition will lock thenut in its operative tightened position'.

In carrying out my invention I provide a resilient, split, bevelled washer, adapted to extend into thel countersink, and upon pressure from the nut, to be wedged together toconverge upon and vrigidly grip the perch,

to rigidly engage the countersink, and by its resilienceto lock the nut against retrac- 1on.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of an axle with my invention in' place in an operative locking condition.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section 'through an axle, radius rod, nut, and a lock washer, showing inv full lines the posi- ,tion of the parts before pressure is applied by the nut, and showing in dotted lines the lockingir position of the washer after it has bein compressed under pressure from the nu Fig. -3 is a side elevation of the preferred form of lock washer. with butt ends'.

Fig. 4. is a slightly modified form with butt ends, in whichone end of the washer rojects below the plane of the other end, m order 4to enhance the nut locking feature of the invention. n

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a further modified form in which the washer is split by a slopmgout so as to provide two wedglng or camming surfaces, for a purpose to be described. 4

Fi 6 is asimilarl view of the form shown in Fig. 5, after thewasher has been compressed till the camming faces contact.`

Fig. 7 is a side elevationv of a further slightly modified form of washer, yin which in addition to a sloping out yto lsplit the washer as in Fig. 5, one end of the washer is bent downwardly to enhance the nutlocking action of the washer, in dotted lines the downwardly extending portion has been lane of -the other end as by the pressure' om the nut.

Purely for the purpose of illustration the invention has been shown'as applied to an axle, radius rod and erch, connection, although obviously appllcable to a wide range of construction, including for instance, l'ish plate and rail connections. The axle-10 has a bolt or perch hole 11, through which the perch 12 extends. The radius rod 13 has perch hole 14, terminating at the, bottom in the counter-sink 15; through both of which the perch also extends, as shown in Fig. 2. The perch is threaded to receive the plane faced nut 16 .adapted to bear against the bottom face of the washer forming my invention.

In its preferred form, and as shown in Fig. 3,` the lock washer comprises a resilient externally bevelled annulus 17, radially split or cut as at 18. As shown in detailA in Fig. 2, after the parts have been assembled and the Washer 17 extended somewhat into the countersink 15, the washer has no locking contact with any surface. However, as the nut is turned on itsthreads. the pressure forces the washer into the countersink, the tapering walls of which have a. camming or wedging action upon the washer. with a resultant converging or clamping effect thereon. Obviously as the washer is constricted its inner diameter becomes smaller so that it is forced into a rigid locking engagement with the perch or bolt carrying the nut. It

' will be. noted. that being an entirely independent element, and having its motion solely vertically, the washer will not only seat. fully and properly in the. countersink, but will also center and hold the perch. Pressure from the nut having forced the washer into the countersink, its engagement therewith centers and locks the radius rod to the-washer. and thus to the perch. Due to its resilience, the washer tends to resist the constricting action of the pressure, that is, it`

tends to spring downwardly against the-nut. Thispressure is sufficient to firmly lock the nut against retraction hy rotation on the threads of the perch.

It might, in some cases, be. desirable to enhance this nut locking action of the washer, and to that end, the modified form shown in Fig. 4 may be used. In that form of the device.the Washer has a similar transverse or radial slot 18, as the form shown in Fig. 3. this slot thus forms two edges 19 and 20. By deliecting one edge, as 20.r a bit. below the plane ofthe remainder of the washer,1

and if necessary drawing the edge out to a biting edge as at 21, I enhance to a material extent the nut locking qualities of the washer` after which its action is the same, except for the downward pressure of the edge 20, which forces the biting edge 21 into thc nut` with increased pressure to prevent it from backing off the perch.

The form 0f washer' disclosed in Fig. 5`

includes a lsloping slot or cut 22. forming at each end of the washer, vertically inclined camming or wedging edges or faces 23. As shown in Fig. 6, after sufficient pres- In Fig. 7, the washer has a sloping slot or cut 22, and in additionyone edge 25 is formed below the plane of the washer, to enhance the nut locking qualities of the washer, similar to the washer Shown in Fig. 4.

As noted, this invention forms a rigid and effective lock in three directions, namely in locking the perch, the radius rod, and the nut. Vibration has no effect upon'it, and as the connection is rigid no wear can take place.

Although for illustration I have shown the invention as applied to an axle and radius rod connection, yet, as noted, it may he applied in vany place where a rigid and firm locking` action is desired` although of more value Where vibration is to be confor wcdging engagement with the countersink, and an internal surface adapted for emhracingly engaging the holt, the upper edge of the washer adapted to he forced uniformly and concentricallv toward the bolt hole at the inner end of the countersink. the whole so arranged that the washer centers and locks the bolt in the element. simultancously locking the nut against retrogression.

2.A removable re-usable lock washer adapted for embracing association with a bolt carrying a substantially plane faced nut. said bolt extending through a countersunk bolt hole in an element. said washer comprising a resilient` split annulus. a section through an)7 point of which is a rightangled triangle. and having three gripping and locking surfaces. a bottom surface to contact with the plane face of the nut, an external surface for wedging engagement with the countersink, and an internal surface for embracingly engaging said bolt, said lnternal Surface being an arc of va true circle, an upper edge adapted to be forced under pressure from the nut uniformly. and conoentroally toward the bolt hole at the `inner end of the oountersink, the Whole so arranged that`the Washer centers and looks the bolt against vibration or movement relatirre topthe element, and due to its resilience `simultaneously locks the nut against unde` LEO J. BOTSCHELLER. 

